She Works for Berkeley...and for Berkeley

Shirley Dean Balances Dual Roles as the Newly Elected Mayor of the
City of Berkeley and University Staff Member

by Fernando Quintero
She has given up cooking, season opera tickets and a few hours of
sleep.

She cut her hours at the Undergraduate Admissions and Relations with Schools
in half and just about doubled the amount of appointments in her work and
social calendars.

For Shirley Dean, being both mayor of Berkeley and a campus staff member has
become a sink-or-swim lesson in time management.

"Basically, you have to strip out the non-essentials," said Dean from her
visibly aged but clean fifth-floor City Hall office.

"It's hard for me to say no, and everyone wants a part of your time. Many
times, there just are not enough hours in the day. I'm still learning how to
best manage my time."

Dean, who recently completed her first 100 days in office, gave herself a
passing grade in fulfilling her obligations to the city and the university.

Since she took office after a runoff with Don Jelinek in December, Dean said
she has accomplished a number of important tasks including the formation of a
Student Advisory Committee and a collaborative town-gown South Berkeley
Committee to plan for area revitalization.

On campus, she continues her budgeting and student outreach work for
admissions and is helping bring a new computerized marketing and recruitment
system online.

"It's fun to have the mayor in our office," said Bob Laird, admissions
director.

"I think everyone here feels a sense of pride about that. She's one of the
hardest working people I know, and, despite her new responsibility, she has
clearly maintained her perspective and sense of balance."

Laird added, however, that having the highest official in the city for an
employee poses "a curious dilemma."

Dean admits she sometimes has to remind herself which role she is playing
"when I'm a UC employee and when I'm mayor," she said.

"I have a different relationship with the chancellor when I'm one or the
other. I feel comfortable with my dual roles so far."

A Berkeley alumna and former Berkeley city councilwoman, Dean has strong
allegiances to both the city and the university.

"I met my husband when we were undergraduates. He borrowed my notes in
sociology class. My son went to Cal. I'm a true blue and gold," she said.

"I've always found the campus an exciting place. It's what gives the city real
meaning. This, however, can bring about certain problems. I want to be a
proponent for solutions to those problems."

At the top of her town-gown to-do list is ensuring the success of People's
Park.

"The chancellor has said he wants to keep it open space as a place that
students, families and neighborhood residents can enjoy. (The Berkeley City
Council) unanimously agreed with him in a meeting last night," said Dean. "It's
important to the city and important to the university."

Another important accomplishment for Dean has been the formulation of a
citywide clean-up campaign that includes the campus and Southside. Campus
officials have been supportive of city efforts to revitalize the Southside
area, Dean added.

First and foremost on Dean's agenda is balancing the city's budget, which
faces a nearly $3 million deficit. A recently released city manager's budget
proposal calls for cutting 39 city staff positions and restructuring city
departments.